Carousel



(No Medal.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 1.

G. E. NORCROSS. cmousnt.

No. 548,450. Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

Witnesses: Inventon.

Attorney.

ANBRDN icRAHAMMiOTO-unmWASMNGTON.D.C

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. E. NORUROSS.

GAROUSEL.

No. 548,450. Patented (Jet. 22, 1895.

a d/1r AMmEW 5 GRAHAM.PHOTO- ITKQWASHINETOMRQ UNITED STATES PATENTunion,

COLLEN EMLEY NORCROSS, OF SMITHVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

CAROUSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,450, dated October22, 189 5.

Application filed August 10, 1894. Serial No. 519,955. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that I, COLLEN EMLEY NOR- CROSS,of Smithville, in the county of Bur lington and StateofNewJerseyhaveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Carousels, of which the following is a specificatron.

My invention relates to that class of carousels in which one or moreriders seated in seats circularly arranged and suspended from acentrally-pivoted platform or ring or from arms radiating from a centralpost or pivot gyrate about a common center. Heretofore such devices havebeen rotated by steam or horse power without any means being employed tocounteract the centrifugal force, the tendency of which is to unseat therider or not offering any calisthenic advantages in their employment, orwhere such provision was made in requiring the riders to propelthemselves by means of cranks, gearing, &c., the mechanicalelementsemployed being so clumsy and ponderous as to render them inefficient andundesirable as a means of recreation. Hence such devices when put inpractice have been speedily abandoned, and few, if any, are at presentin use.

The object of my invention is, first, to provide a carousel which willcompletely obviate the danger attendant upon riding in aswiftlycircularly moving chair or seat, due to the centrifugal force developedby such movement; secondly, to afford invigorating and healthy exercisein an attractive form appealing to the public taste and consequentlysecuring its patronage.

To these ends my improvements consist in the employment of seatsresembling the sad die of an ordinary bicycle suspended from ahorizontal ring by means of rods of sufficient length, having freedomtoswing outwardly in a radial direction in a plane at right angles tothat of rotation,said ring varying in die meter with the number of seatsin the carousel and being in turn suspended by guy wires or rods from afixed collar near the top of a central mast or pivot, to which they arerigidly secured, and auxiliary horizontal rods secured to the ring andconnecting the same with a flanged collar, also rigidly secured upon thecentral mast or pivot aforesaid. At a point near the foot of theceutral'post or pivot is keyed or otherwise firmly secured a collaranalogous to the upper one, and between the two in contact with both,but free to rotate thereon, extends a metallic sleeve, fitting looselyover the central post or pivot, so as to admit of free and independentrotation of the post. The central post or pivot is seated at its lowestextremity and rotates in a step resting on the ground or in a groovedbeam, and the top is held in place by and rotates in a correspondinghearing or collar seated in an overhead cross-beam, forming part of theinclosing frame or structure. Near the upper end of the sleeve inclosingthe central post or pivot is keyed a collar provided with apertures forthe reception of the upper ends of guy-rods bolted thereto and fastenedat their lower ends to a main foundation-platform, which is likewisesecured to the lower end of the said sleeve by means of an additionalcollar keyed thereon and bolted to a concentric cylind rical casing andsuitable bolts for securing the latter to the platform aforesaid. Keyedat the upper end of the sleeve is a bevel-gear meshing with smallbevel-pinions, one for each saddle or seat, said bevelpinions rotatingin bearings dependent from and in, respectively, the upper collar keyedto the central shaft or pivot and each connected by means of universaland telescopic shafts with sprocket-wheels j ourn aled in bearingscarried upon the rim of the main revoluble ring, said sprocketwheelsbeing r0- tated by means of hell; chains engaging with sprocket-wheelsupon crank-shafts under the seats or saddles and occupying the samerelative positions thereto that the ordinary sprocket-wheel andcrank-shaft of a safetybicycle occupy with reference to the saddlethereof, the whole mechanism being actuated by means of treadles uponthe said crankshaft, said treadles being analogous to the 'treadlesordinarily used on bicycles. Suitable brakes and positive stops appliedto the lower collar of the central pivot or shaft are provided toregulate the movement of either or both or to bring them to absoluterest, as here inafter more fully set forth.

The nature of my improvements and the manner in which they are to becarried out will be understood, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention; Fig. 2, avertical side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical centralsectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing brake andstopping mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are a front and side elevation,respectively, partially in section, showing the driving mechanism of themachine. Fig. 7 isa broken de tailfview of telescopic and universaldrivingsha t.

A main frame constructed of timber or metallic beams of suitable sizeand strength suitably assembled, having two transverse girders, the oneabove and the other beneath the carousel proper, is provided withpivotal steps, the one in the overhead girder and the other in theground beam, for the reception of a cylindrical mast 7 stepped in thesteps and being revoluble therein. At a convenient distance above itslower eXtremity-say, twelve or eighteen inches-is keyed or held with asetscrew a flanged collar 8, to be more fully described hereinafter inconnection with the brake mechanism. Slightly above this fixed collarand extending around and about twothirds, more or less, the length ofthe mast 7 is a sleeve 5, provided with a flanged collar near its upperend cast or keyed thereon, said collar being provided with eyes for thereception of the upper ends of guy-rods 40, which are fastened therein,the lower ends of the same being secured to a circular platform whichrests upon the ground or foundationgirder at a level between theinteriorsurface of the collar 8 and the top of the foundationgirder andstep. The sleeve 5 fits easily over the mast 7' and permits the latterto rotate freely within it, and at its upper end it is crowned with abevel-gear 17, either cast with or keyed upon'it.

Keyed or securely screwed upon the mast 7, just above the top of thesleeve 5, is a flanged collar 14, exteriorly analogous to the collar 8,but in an inverted position theretoi. a, with the flange up and the hubdownward. Screwed or otherwise secured to the periphery of the saidflange are guy-rods 27 27, radiating horizontally and secured at theiroutward ends to a horizontal ring 28, strengthening and maintaining thelatter in a position concentric with the pivotal mast 7.

Immediately beneath and adjacent to the upper step of mast 7 a flangedcollar or ring provided with eyes for the reception of guy rods or ropes39 is keyed or otherwise secured to the said mast 7. The rods orguyropes 39 extend radially outwardly and downwardly, and are secured attheir outward and lower extremities to the ring 28, supporting thelatter and relieving the radial rods 27 27 of weight thereof and of themechanism dependent therefrom and supported thereby.

Bolted to or otherwise securely fastened to the sleeve 5, at a pointadjacent to the lower end thereof, is a circular disk or plate 3,extending over and being firmly bolted to a cylindrical casing 2,forming part of or being securely bolted to the platform 1. The plate orcollar 3 may be cast solid or with arms, and it may be cast with thecasing in one piece, these details not affecting the object to beobtained by myconstruction, to wit: that-the main platform 1, the casing2, the plate 3, the sleeve 5 shall all be rigidly connected together,permitting the free rotation of the mast 7 within their aggregation andconcentric therewith.

The plate 3, platform 1, and easing 2 inclose the collar 8, keyed on themast 7, and the casing is slotted horizontally on a level with the saidcollar 8 for the passage and operation of the brake-bar 4=l,oneextremity of which being pivoted on the post 42 upon the main platform 1and the other extremity projecting to the exterior of the casing forminga handle affords facilities for vibrating the lever in either direction.The center of the lever expands horizontally in the form of an oblongring, the interior surface of the ends of which have the same diameterand Width as the periphery of the collar 8 and on the same leveltherewith, forming a brake-shoe for the same, the normal position ofwhich is central when the device is running and which is pushed toeither side, thereby bringing one of the ends of the shoe in contactwith the exterior periphery of the collar 8 upon the rotating shaft ormast '7, thereby bringing the same gradually to a rest. The plate orcollar 3 is provided with a vertically-sliding bolt 9, sliding easily ina fixed sleeve 11 and opening 8 in the said plate 3. The bolt isprovided near its upper end with a handle or lever 13,

extending at right angles to the axis of the bolt, and, resting upon thetop of the sleeve 11, it is held in position by the resiliency of acylindrically-coiled spring 13, which abuts against the under side ofthe plate 3 and whose lower end reacts upon a pin passing through thesaid bolt at a point near the lower end of the latter.

The upper end of the fixed sleeve 11 is notched or cut in such wise thatone half of the same presents a plane horizontal face, but the otherhalf shows a plane inclined to the horizon at an angle of forty-fivedegrees. When the bolt is in its upper position, it rides upon thehorizontal plane of the sleeve by means of the lever; but when it isdesired to depress the said bolt the handle 13 is pushed around until itcomes over the inclined portion of the slot, when it falls therein,being actuated by the spring 13. The-flange of the collar 8, keyed uponthe mast 7, is perforated vertically along the circular path which comesimmediately beneath the verticallysliding bolt 9, with a series of holesof sufficient diameter to allow the bolt aforesaid to pass freelythrough them, so that when actuated by the spring 13 its handle 13 beingno longer sustained upon the flat end of the sleeve 11, the bolt 9falls, and it immediately enters the hole which first comes beneath itand instantaneously stops the rotation of the ICC) 7 mast 7 relativelyto the platform 12. When in this position, the machine can only berotated by the external application of power to the mast 7. This can beeffected by means of gearing and steam or horse power in the usualmanner. Radiating from the ring 28 are arms 29 29, the, all of equallength in pairs, a pair for each vehicle, each pair carrying ahorizontal bar 30 parallel to the chord subtending the are containedbetween the members of a pair of brackets. The bar 30 is threaded atboth ends and is held rigidly in eyes in the outer extremity of thebrackets 29 29, &c., by means of nuts and jam-nuts. The horizontal baris not tangent to the ring 28, but leaves suificient clearance at itscenter for the placing and tightening of the exterior nut. upon the rod27. The said bar 30 carries sleeved and revoluble around itslongitudinal axis, near its forward end or the end which lies in thedirection of the movement of the carousel, a sprocket-wheel carrier orbearing-block 43, (see Fig. 5,) provided with a socket whoselongitudinal axis is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thehorizontal bars 30. Into these sockets are secured the tubes 31 32,respectively.

The construction of each bar and the mechanism connected therewith beingidentical in each case, the description of one, as hereinabove and whatfollows, will answer for the others.

The tubes 31 32 extend downwardly to within a convenient distance of theplatform 1 and are screwed into sockets tapped into the lowersprocket-wheel casing, said casing 45 being of suitable form to containthe sprocketwheel 33 upon a suitable crank-shaft 46, passing throughsuitable hearings in the casing and carrying cranks 38 38, provided withtreadles 37 37 analogous to ordinary bicycletreadles. Passing throughthe tubes and over the sprocket-wheel 33 and engaging with the same is achain-belt 31, which passes over and gears with the sprocket-pinion 26,car-' ried on the shaft 25, which is journaled at its outer end in the.bearing formed in an upwardly-projecting standard 44. on thehorizontally-revoluble sprocket-wheel carrier or bearingblock 43 uponthe bar 30, the axis of said shaft 25 lying in a plane radiating fromand containing the axis of rotation of the mast 7.

Near the end of the horizontal bar 30 and fitting easily, so as to admitof free rotation thereon, is a T-shaped sleeve provided with a socket,into which is secured the verticallydepending rod or tube 34, bentforward horizontally below and fitting in a socket upon thesprocketwheel shaft and held therein by means of a set-screw. A saddle34, similar to a safety-bicycle saddle and provided with springs, issecured upon ahorizontal rod. The said saddle-supporting rod is screwedrigidly into the socket of a T-shaped sleeve 35, secured to thedependent. rod or tube 34 and being capable of free vertical movement upor down thereon.

Handles and handle-bars 36 36, supported upon the vertical chain-guidetubes 31 and secured thereto, afford a support for the hands of theriders.

The shaft 25 is connected by means of a universal joint22 to shaft 23,(see Fig. 7,) and the latter, carrying a seat, telescopes into a hollowshaft 20, provided with a feather corresponding with the seat upon shaft23. The shaft 20 is connected by means of a universal joint 18 to theshaft 10, journa-led in the hanger 15, depending from the collar 14,said shaft carrying the bevel-pinion l6, meshing with the gear 17.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. The ridersoccupy seats 3i, and applying power to the pedals 37 the power istransmitted through the sprocket-wheels, link belts, and connect-ions tobevel-pinion l6, mast 7, and transmitted to rim 28 through collar 14,rods 27, and guys 39. It is obvious that instead of sprockehwheels withlink belts bevel-wheels and universal shafts or shafts with universaljoints, can be substituted therefor, or cables and V-shaped pulleys,without departing from my invention. Particular attention is called tothe fact that as the speed increases the seats actuated by thecentrifugal force and freely suspended from the tangential rods spreadoutwardly, the resultant from the force of gravity and the saidcentrifugal force being constantly normal to the saddle in a verticalplane passing through the central axis of rotation, so that there is notendency whatever to unseat therider, no matter what speed may beattained or imparted to the carousel, the universally-jointed andtelescopic shafts adapting themselves to the various positions assumedby the standards carrying the upper sprocket wheel or wheels, as thesedepart from their normal vertical position with varying speeds.

I am aware that carousels, roundabouts, or merry-gorounds have been inuse heretofore, and that some of them have been driven by means ofhandles and treadles operatedby the riders themselves and geared so asto communicate a rotary motion to the central mast or pivot carrying theentire rotating system; but in no such devices has any provision beenmade to counteract the centrifugal force resulting from the said rotarymotion, said centrifugal force increasing with the rate of speedattained, so as to become eventually an element of danger, the onlysafeguard against which is the employment of straps or other fasteningdevices, the main objection to which is that in the majority of casesthey are neglected and are only remembered after an accident hasoccurred.

It is obvious, also, that the device can be made of such dimensions asto accommodate any number of riders.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a carousel, the combination of a central revoluble mast, 7,horizontal revoluble ring, 28, suspended from and supported by said mastnear the upper end of the latter, arms 29 extending outwardly from saidring, bars 30 supported by said arms, tubes or pipes 31, 32 and rods 34:supported by bars 30 and adapted to oscillate or swing freely thereon ina plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of bars 30, seats 34'supported by rods 34, sprocket wheels 26 and 33, respectively,

chain belts 31, pedals 3'7, cranks 38, pinions 16,gear 17, drivingshafts 25, universal joints 22 and 18 with intermediate shafts 20 and23, the former being tubular and provided with feathers 21, and thelatter being adapted to telescope the former and being provided withseats, or grooves, adapted to said feathers on shafts 20, rods 27 andguys 39, whereby power applied to said pedals is transmitted to the mastand from the latter to the ring 28, arranged substantially as and forthe purpose described.

2. In a carousel the combination of therim or band 28, brackets 29, bars30, sprocket wheels 26 supported by said bars, tubes or pipes 31 32,supported at their upper ends by the casing of said sprocket wheels,sprocket wheel 33 supported by said tubes or pipes at. the lower ends ofthe latter, link or chain belts passing, through said tubes or pipes andengaging with the sprockets of said respective wheels, rods or pipes 34secured at their upper ends to horizontal bars 30, and at their lowerends to the casing of the sprocket wheels 33, seats-34E attached to saidrods or pipes 3t, handles 36 attached to tubes 31, pedals 37 and cranks38 for operating said sprocket wheels and chain belts and mechanism,substantially as described, whereby the power applied to said pedals istransmitted to mast 7 and rim or band 28, all arranged and combinedsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

COLLEN EHLEY NORCROSS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD S. TROTH, PATRICK FITZPATRICK.

